Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the abrupt loss of cardiac output, breathing and consciousness, usually from a malignant arrhythmia, and it is the leading medical cause of sudden death in athletes during sport.

It is uncommon but time-critical: the chance of survival falls by about 10% for every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation. Sport and exercise medicine (SEM) doctors and physiotherapists are often closest when an athlete collapses, pitchside, in the gym or at a road race, so recognising arrest and leading the first response is a core skill whatever the day-to-day work.